External GPS antenna location?

So I purchased a new touchscreen stereo for my FJ60 that has the ability to do CarPlay. This unit is an android head unit that gives the ability to run online/offline maps and GPS with the included external GPS antenna.

However, my question is what is an optimal location for the GPS puck? I plan to remove the dash on my 60 so that I can securely attach the head unit to the stereo brackets and do some other wire cleanup while I am in there (possibly removing the heater core too at that time if it is truly dead).
Anyways, I have seen posts where people say that you can just attach it to the underside of the dash near the windshield but would it be more optimal to run it outside the dash and on top of the dash pad/dash valence?

I ran an external GPS puck for a few years, right in the center of the dash, tucked up close to the windshield. Worked fine. My Delorme Inreach is mounted on the dash, right next to/above the radio, the GPS works fine on this as well.

So got the head unit this week and installed last night. Super simple plug n play for this portion. Actually entire install was easy just took a while as I did some wire management/cleanup while I had the head unit out.

Thanks to a nasty cracked dash I was able to semi easily slide the cable, which is like 10’ long by the way, through a crack and then mount the puck, which apparently has a magnetic base, to the small metal defroster location towards the passenger side right up against the windshield.

Get great signal across all bands according to the systems GPS diagnostics portion, will need to get away from things a bit to try it out.

Just downloaded Gaia GPS and will have to play with it some with the unit to see how it works. It does not show that it is CarPlay compatible but I think I can run it outside the app via the headunit itself. If nothing else, I can probably download to the head unit itself as it is Android and possibly run natively. Quick run around the city using its native Google maps app and then using Apple Maps via the CarPlay feature both worked flawlessly.

Couple pics... Gaia GPS will not work through the CarPlay however I downloaded it on the unit itself. Have not setup yet though, just haven't had time to sit and tinker. Truck will be going through paint this weekend so got other priorities at the moment. Untitled by Greg Fisicaro, on Flickr

So finally got around to downloading Gaia GPS to the unit and uploading some maps and tracks. Thing works a treat so far just roaming around town. Going to try and get out soon here to see how she does with tracking a route and following a pre-defined route!

So finally got around to downloading Gaia GPS to the unit and uploading some maps and tracks. Thing works a treat so far just roaming around town. Going to try and get out soon here to see how she does with tracking a route and following a pre-defined route!

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GaiaGPS is still in its infancy. There are several features lacking. It does not display an active "bread crumb" trail when you are recording. You have to force a screen refresh to see the trail you were on. You also can't enter GPS coordinates to create a waypoint, nor can you alter a waypoint by GPS coordinates.

GaiaGPS is still in its infancy. There are several features lacking. It does not display an active "bread crumb" trail when you are recording. You have to force a screen refresh to see the trail you were on. You also can't enter GPS coordinates to create a waypoint, nor can you alter a waypoint by GPS coordinates.

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Is there one you would recommend over Gaia that would work with an android unit such as the Joying headunit?

Is there one you would recommend over Gaia that would work with an android unit such as the Joying headunit?

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Honestly, I've been looking for one that doesn't suck. Gaia has potential, but they need to address some real basic issues.
It seems that all of them have issues in one way or another. There's a thread on this topic in this forum.options , built in offline GPS tablet